Chances and Risks of migrating to Linux (from Windows)
Discussion
I run both and have used Windows for many years both casually and professionally.
The biggest hurdle that I could forsee interface wise is that in the Linux world there is little semblance of what was referred to in the green screen days of a CUA (Common User Access). Windows provides so much by the way of control fileopen dialogs, toolbars etc that a user can inteface with a machine directly whatever the software does (unless you use Lotus products as they are obtuse and proprietary for the sake of it).
That isnt enforced in Linux yet so on a large roll out I would expect this to cause the most helpdesk issues in the early days.
The biggest hurdle that I could forsee interface wise is that in the Linux world there is little semblance of what was referred to in the green screen days of a CUA (Common User Access). Windows provides so much by the way of control fileopen dialogs, toolbars etc that a user can inteface with a machine directly whatever the software does (unless you use Lotus products as they are obtuse and proprietary for the sake of it).
That isnt enforced in Linux yet so on a large roll out I would expect this to cause the most helpdesk issues in the early days.
Plotloss said:
I run both and have used Windows for many years both casually and professionally.
The biggest hurdle that I could forsee interface wise is that in the Linux world there is little semblance of what was referred to in the green screen days of a CUA (Common User Access). Windows provides so much by the way of control fileopen dialogs, toolbars etc that a user can inteface with a machine directly whatever the software does
The biggest hurdle that I could forsee interface wise is that in the Linux world there is little semblance of what was referred to in the green screen days of a CUA (Common User Access). Windows provides so much by the way of control fileopen dialogs, toolbars etc that a user can inteface with a machine directly whatever the software does
I'm afraid you're confusing familiarity with ease of use. I came to Windows very late in my career and its development; I never used Windows at all prior to NT3, and frankly, the first time I did, I was appalled (*). It's got a lot better, but stuff is still scattered all over the place, much of it totally illogical. Why is an LPD networked printer added under the "Local Printer" dialogue? Why are there about 3 or 4 different kinds of "File Open" dialogues? (Some of which cannot be resized). Why does it keep seizing the input focus? That wouldn't be so bad, except it forces the window containing the focus to the front, so if there's something in a window underneath you needed to see to complete the "File Open" dialogue, you have to close it and start again. (A Google for "Windows User Interface Hall of Shame" would be educational.)
(Actually, "File Open" dialogues are a good example. Did you know that Windows has had over 30 different kinds? See www.raizlabs.com/interface/hall-of-shame/default.asp)
Not that Linux is much different, to be honest. But it has one huge advantage over Windows; you can escape. There are other UIs and a myriad choice of CLIs. Although this is likely no advantage for an IT manager deciding on whether to use it.
But Windows has one overwhelming advantage. It might be ugly, illogical, insecure, unreliable, expensive and hard to maintain remotely but like the QWERTY keyboard, everyone knows it. You can easily recruit staff who can use it, staff who can maintain it, and they're cheap and widely available.
We looked into using Linux on the desktop at work (we have about 350,000 users, worldwide) and decided that for "appliance" style users, particularly those who used only web based applications, it was ideal, but for everyone else, it made more sense to stick with Windows, even though the TCO was probably, in the long run, higher. But because we didn't want to support 2 desktop O/Ss, we decided to go with Windows.
And finally, for the OP, although I loathe Windows, Microsoft and all who sail in her, and am typing this on a Sun workstation, I keep a Windows box hanging around because every so often there's something you need to do that has to be done on a Windows machine, because so many suppliers, manufacturers and so on think that the word "computer" is spelled "Windows PC". So, even if you move to Linux, you're going to need to use a Windows box every so often anyway - especially so if you play games (which I don't).
(* BTW, I was very familiar with windowing GUIs - I'd worked with them for 11 years at Xerox before I ever saw a Windows box.)
Edited by zumbruk on Saturday 6th January 15:52
m12_nathan said:
I guess the risks depend on if you are talking about one user at home or 100000 users in a corporate environment. Can we have more detail about what you are considering?
Oh yes, sorry. It's for average private users. I've started really using computers with Linux, so can't quite imagine what an average private user has to adapt to when coming from Windows. When I recommend Linux, I obviously can only recommend stuff that I know that doesn't work on Windows or its UI.
From a purely home use point of view, I've pretty much moved fully to Linux, after about a year of playing with live CDs and whatnot. Just prefer it now. Can't really comment technically in terms of risk, but the only thing I've fallen foul of is updating certain packages and breaking others in the process, although I think most package managers take care of dependencies now. I think it's just a question of familiarity - I've been using the Gnome desktop for about six months, and it now feels odd when I use XP. I'm still unsure about security as well. I know everyone says Linux is more secure by design, but I think years of Windows use has made me slightly paranoid. Feels odd to be surfing without a plethora of anti-virus and spyware tools.
Bodo said:
I've never done it, so what is to consider to do it? I understand that is mostly user-interface habits that need to be adjusted, but what about the choice of hardware and the strategy of using standard software or the new environment?
no evangelisms please¬
no evangelisms please¬
Ok. Hardware. Pretty much everything will work as far as a desktop PC will go (USB HDD and thumb drives) your ipod will work fine. Nvidia cards work better than ATi, however manufacturers provide drivers for their offerings. WiFi is the major PITA. Some of the cheaper nastier cards are in effect the modern equivilent of "WinModem" units, that have zero chance of working due to lack of specifications or manufacturers releasing firmware (or even making it avaliable for driver writers to work). Sometimes you can get around this with a kludge or two. If you need WiFi check the exact make/model/revision of the card for Linux compatibility.
UI Habits.
KDE is very much like Windows and other than a few 'where is this?' moments you should be fine. Gnome is very similar but I don't have much hands on experience of it.
What do you mean by "Standard Software"? Office? AutoCAD? 3D Studio? Some versions of Office can run with a little help from 3rd party software, AC/3DS... I wouldn't even try.
Games can be played via Cegeda (or is it Cedega?)
Are you looking at this from a commerical stand point or a home machine?
Ironically, I think it's the least experienced users that will have the easiest time when sat at a linux box. Experienced windows users will feel very lost and frustrated when faced with the unfamiliar names, icons, ways of doing things but newbies feel that way allready so there's no disadvantage.
Older people as well I think will do OK, I've noticed that a lot of them tend to be more task orientated and just learn what to do, step by step to get a certain task done. If you update their OS or app, you just have to show them the new way, they literally write it down with a pen step by step and learn it... I think faced with a linux box this kind of user will just need showing what to do again, no different than if you'd updated the s/w on their windows box for example.
Support wise I'd guess it's swings and roundabouts, you might have to get creative or compromise in cases where required software or drivers aren't available. Web plugins, video codecs are there but can be a faff. Aspects of OpenOffice still aren't as good as MS Office - speed, macros, etc. But on the flipside, there's less random b***s*** that bored people can download and install off the web and no product activation/licensing worries. And IMO flat configuration files are 1000x easier to work with than the windows registry when things go pete tong and you can't boot, or if someone manages to 'customize' something beyond all hope of working ever again. I imagine it would be much easier to drop a few default .conf files back in remotely than messing about trying to reinstall a badly packaged MSI or manually hack reg settings.
Anyway thats just my 2p.
Older people as well I think will do OK, I've noticed that a lot of them tend to be more task orientated and just learn what to do, step by step to get a certain task done. If you update their OS or app, you just have to show them the new way, they literally write it down with a pen step by step and learn it... I think faced with a linux box this kind of user will just need showing what to do again, no different than if you'd updated the s/w on their windows box for example.
Support wise I'd guess it's swings and roundabouts, you might have to get creative or compromise in cases where required software or drivers aren't available. Web plugins, video codecs are there but can be a faff. Aspects of OpenOffice still aren't as good as MS Office - speed, macros, etc. But on the flipside, there's less random b***s*** that bored people can download and install off the web and no product activation/licensing worries. And IMO flat configuration files are 1000x easier to work with than the windows registry when things go pete tong and you can't boot, or if someone manages to 'customize' something beyond all hope of working ever again. I imagine it would be much easier to drop a few default .conf files back in remotely than messing about trying to reinstall a badly packaged MSI or manually hack reg settings.
Anyway thats just my 2p.
Good input here. I've posted this thread because I sometimes get asked "Can I use Linux for my stuff too?" from friends or colleagues. I really don't know what to answer then other than they'd need a separate console for high end gaming.
I myself have a solution in Linux for all my needs and probably see stuff through rose tinted glasses. As an industrial designer, I am satisfied with the CAD and DTP and graphics applications available for Linux; however other characters may not like to try stuff and play around with software to get used to it. That, however, would at least be obligatory in order to apply the stuff learned with Photoshop at university to The Gimp on Linux. While I apreciate the independence in Linux, others may focus more on stuff they already know, or that everybody else uses.
In two cases, people asked me to help them get into using computers, which they had never used before (think: "What's this button on the keyboard for?"
. As said, these people are easy to introduce to anything, since they don't have rigid imaginations on how the principals of computer-using shall work. TBH, I bought the pensioner couple an iMac. Not only because its design was compatible to their house's interior, but because they would not have to service it with antivir and antimalware, but because they could get support elsewhere; ie. their kids.
The other one is a friend, aged then 26, that didn't ever had to use computers, except for email at work. He moved on to become a self-employed sales agent, and that's where he asked me to go buy a PC with him. Him being an open-minded chap, I introduced him to the environment I use; and which he would use for information research, communication and his administrative stuff. He started with KDE, and he only ever comes back to me, when he wants to buy eligible hardware, such as a smartphone that would sync with his PIM software, Kontact (it's a Palm Treo, btw).
Plotloss, I recall you started looking into Linux some time ago. As an experienced Windows-user, would you recommend -say, a Gnome desktop- to an average user who regularly uses a Win-desktop, that deals with Office-stuff, email, websurfing (+vids) and a digital camera?
- I would; but what do I know where they're coming from!
I myself have a solution in Linux for all my needs and probably see stuff through rose tinted glasses. As an industrial designer, I am satisfied with the CAD and DTP and graphics applications available for Linux; however other characters may not like to try stuff and play around with software to get used to it. That, however, would at least be obligatory in order to apply the stuff learned with Photoshop at university to The Gimp on Linux. While I apreciate the independence in Linux, others may focus more on stuff they already know, or that everybody else uses.
In two cases, people asked me to help them get into using computers, which they had never used before (think: "What's this button on the keyboard for?"
. As said, these people are easy to introduce to anything, since they don't have rigid imaginations on how the principals of computer-using shall work. TBH, I bought the pensioner couple an iMac. Not only because its design was compatible to their house's interior, but because they would not have to service it with antivir and antimalware, but because they could get support elsewhere; ie. their kids. The other one is a friend, aged then 26, that didn't ever had to use computers, except for email at work. He moved on to become a self-employed sales agent, and that's where he asked me to go buy a PC with him. Him being an open-minded chap, I introduced him to the environment I use; and which he would use for information research, communication and his administrative stuff. He started with KDE, and he only ever comes back to me, when he wants to buy eligible hardware, such as a smartphone that would sync with his PIM software, Kontact (it's a Palm Treo, btw).
Plotloss, I recall you started looking into Linux some time ago. As an experienced Windows-user, would you recommend -say, a Gnome desktop- to an average user who regularly uses a Win-desktop, that deals with Office-stuff, email, websurfing (+vids) and a digital camera?
- I would; but what do I know where they're coming from!
Bodo said:
Good points.
In some respects Linux is in a chicken & egg situation. GIMP, as an example, is no Photoshop, it tries its best and those far more proficient in it than I can seriously do good stuff... but. For a lot of people GIMP is good enough, for others it's Photoshop or nothing.
Gaming, I was surprised by just how many games Cegda will run when I looked in to it for myself, oddly enough most of the ones it doesn't aren't all that popular and for those in to retro gaming I believe DOSBox comes in Linux flavours.
The interesting thing I spotted in the KDE 4.0 design specs is that they are moving to a HAL based system, so rather than having to fight with artsd the thing should just go "Righto. ALSA spotted, ALSA in use." and all the programs just talk to this layer. Sounds like the configuration of Linux + KDE is about to get even simpler (as will fault finding).
I'm also rather looking forward to the SVG'd graphics, should make scaling up and down resolutions look pretty
Bodo said:
Plotloss, I recall you started looking into Linux some time ago. As an experienced Windows-user, would you recommend -say, a Gnome desktop- to an average user who regularly uses a Win-desktop, that deals with Office-stuff, email, websurfing (+vids) and a digital camera?
- I would; but what do I know where they're coming from!
- I would; but what do I know where they're coming from!
I realise you were asking Plotty, but to give my opinion... by default no, Linux does not exist. The first person who suggested that someone like my MIL (who is, unfortunately the average) should run Linux is the same person who would be beaten until they gave over their personal mobile number to field the calls.
These would range from "Where is the start button" to "It says 'Kernel Panic' is that bad? I only tried <insert something whereby she should, by rights, have been electrocuted>, did I break it? Can you fix it? Can you tell me how to fix it?" Telling her how to fix it will be pointless as she will sit doing her own sweet thing until you come round.
Ohh and they'd be happening on a 24x7 basis.
Now, if after talking to this person and discovering that they were not so resistant to change and had a fair grasp of 'if in doubt click no', then yeah... I'd be more than happy to try them on a LiveCD of I dunno, Ubantu?
Edited by ThePassenger on Sunday 7th January 03:03
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